Combination tool-chest and work-bench.



A. ANDERSON.

EOMBINATION TOOL CHEST AND WORK BENCH. APPLICAHON mm FEB.I5,19I8.

1,28? ,175. Patented D9010, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

A. ANDERSON.

COMBiNATlON TOOL CHEST AND WORK BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15. 1918.

1,287,1 75. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 swans-SHEET 2.

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ANDREW ANDERSON, OF CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA.

To all whom'z't may concern: I

Be it known that I, ANDREW ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crookston, in thecounty of Polk and State of lvlinn, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Tool- Chestsand Work-Benches; and I hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel combination tool chest and work bench for useby carpenters and mechanics; and its object is to provide a durable andconvenient apparatus which can be folded compactly as a chest fortransportation or can be readily expanded as a work bench when desired.

The invention includes a novel construction and connection of boxesforming the main parts of the apparatus; a novel a-rrangement of coverswhereby additional top space or work shelves is provided; novel meansfor interlocking the boxes; novel foldable legs; and-other novel detailsof construction and combinationsof parts all hereinafter more fullyexplained with reference to the accompanying drawings; and the featuresand parts for which. protection is-desired are summarized in theclaims.

Insaid drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus adjusted as'awork bench; Fig.2 is a reverse view of Fig. 1 with one box cover closed.

Fig.3 is a perspective view partly broken showing the boxes with thelids raised. V

Fig. 4 is a view of the apparatus folded into a chest and closed.

showing one of the foldable legs open. Fig. 6 is a'similar view showingthe leg partly folded. v t

Fig. 7 is a'detail view of-oneof thehinges connecting the boxes. I tFig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the method of locking thedrawers.

Fig. 9 is a detail showing the cover locking device. t l 1 7 Fig. 10 isa detail showing the interlocking edges of the supplemental covers 1 and2 7 Fig. 11 is a detail. 7 A

The combined tool chest and work bench comprises two similar sized boxes1* and 2,

each substantially-built preferably of'wood Specification ofLettersPatent.

Fig. 5 is an inverted bottom pun VieW- COMBINATION TOOL-CHES'I'IANYDWORK-BENCH. Q I

Patented Dec. 1c, 1918.

Application filed February 15, 1918. Serial No. 217,420.

and having closed ends and outer sides, and preferably provided withdepending bot-tom flanges 1 2* respectively, so'that'the' bottoms 1", 2,of the boxes areslightly elevated above the surface on which the boxesrest.

Box 1 is provided with a cover l hinged to one side thereof and with ashallow top compartment 1? having a bottom plate 1 Beneath compartment 1are a plurality of drawers; two 1 1 being shown, which drawers areinserted through openings in the innerslde of the box (or side opposedto box 2 when the chest is closed). Said drawers may be of usual or anydesired construction and are shown as supported on suitable guides orbars attached to the ends'ofbox 1 in the usual manner. a i 1 Box 2 isprovided with a cover'2 ,top"compartment 2 having a bottom plate 2 andwith three drawers 2 2, 2 being shown arranged beneath compartment "2and supported on suitable guides on the ends of the box asusual. p I

Preferably, drawers 1 1 are so made that when closed their outer sideslie about one half inch within the surface of the adjacent parts of theside of box 1; and drawers 2% 2, 2 are preferably so constructed thatwhen closed their outer edges project about a'half inch beyond thesurface of the adjacen't parts of the side of box 2 so that when theboxes are turned side by side (see Fig. 4) the projecting ends of thedrawers in box 2 ena ter the recess in box 1 left by the inset drawerstherein; and thus the drawers interlock the boxes against relativevertical or lateral movement, like a teno-n and socket.

' The drawers may be locked-.when'closed by inserting one leg of anyordinary carpenters square S, into suitably formed grooves or notches 12 in theends of the drawer slide-s1,'2 and between the slides and adjacent side of the box, (see Figs. 3 and "8) which grooves registeringwhen the drawers are closed; and the other leg of the angle lying withinthe compartment (1 or 2).

The tops 1", 2? may be fastened when closed by any suitable lockpreferably mortise looks as indicated at; 1 2 in the drawings'. "Top 1may be provided with a disap pearing bench stop If" of any suitablekind.

One end of a bar 3 may be pivotally securedt'othe cover 1 by'a bolt 3"(see Fig. 3). Said bar is provided with a head 3 to which a" clampingscrew 3* maybe detachably m;- tached. Bar 3. may be turned to a posi-=tion at right angles to the cover, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.3 and engaged with a notch 3 in front of the box, and project out of thecompartment 1, and a clamping screw 3 may be 'attachedto this head andbe supported thereby in convenientposition to engage'and hold the work,when the boxes are disposed so as to form a work bench, (see Fig. 1).

ThebQxes1 and 2 are hinged together at their adjacent inner corners bymeans of suitable hinges so that the boxes can be relatively swungeitherinto end to end position (Fig.1) or side by side position (Fig.4e). Preferably I use hinges having angle arms 4: (see Fig. 7) whichcanbe screwed to the corners of the boxes and form a strong reinforcedangularly braced hinge attachment; and these hinge members 4: have eyestransfixed by pintles 4-. If desired, the. boxes could be disconnectedby" removing said ,plntles.

The boxes are provided with supplemental covers 1 and 2 adapted tooverlie tops 1 2*, when closed (see Figs. ,4 and 9). -Each cover (1 2)"is preferably .composed of sheet metal (see Fig. 9) andhinged to the*rearside of theboxes by angle hinges. 5, (Fig. 2) so that the covers 12 may be turned outward at one side of the boxes'and lie below the planeofthe covers 1 2 and form a shelf or shelves, (as indicated in Figs. 1and2).- Said supplemental covers may be supported in position as shelvesby any suitable means;'preferably by brackets I 5 that are detachablyengaged with retain 1 of cover 1? will overlie the channel and form atight joint and prevent water entering between the boxes. I I I I Eachbox is preferablyprovided'at each end with a foldable leg; which may beformed,*(as shown in Figs. Sand 6) of a .main leg member 6. having a topbar G lattached by'hinges 6 to the bottom of the box within the baseflange; and to this leg 6, is hinged a member 6 which can be swung outin line with the leg 6 and form a bracing extension thereof (see Figs. 1and 2) and'may be held in this positionby a button 6 or othersuitablefastening. The leg 6. may be held in operative positionby a brace 6hinged thereto as shown and adapted to'be extended: at right anglesthereto under ablock 6* attached to the bottom of the box (see Fig. 5).'When the apparatus is to be converted into a chest, the brace '6 andextension 6 can be folded against the innerside of the leg 6 and thelatter as indicatedin Fig. 6 and then the whole may be folded againstthe bottom of the box within the flange 1*. When the boxes are swunginto line to form a tool chest as indicated in Fig. 1, they may be heldin this position by. means of a U-shaped clip 7 that may be engagedwithnotches 7 in the top of the adjacent ends of the boxes (see Figs. 3 and11). When the boxes are to be folded as in Fig. 4, this clip may beremoved and placed in one of the compartments or drawers.

The supplemental covers-may be locked to and with the main covers bymeans of a hasp 8 attached to the cover 1 2 and having an angularperforated part 8 adapted to project under the main cover wnen the coveris closed and engage a pintle 8 (see Figs. 3 and 9) so thatwhen the maincover is locked the supplemental cover will be also looked.

The drawers may be arranged to accommodate an assortment of. tools, inpractice I provide the upper drawer on left side with places for saws,one for each saw; the lower drawer on left side is for planes. The threedrawers on the right are for smaller tools and light hardwaresuch asscrews, brads,

etc; the trays or compartments on top under bench covers are for suchtools as are not used every day; and they are also large enough tocontain overalls.

Then the boxes are swung into line with legs folded (as in Fig. 3) theapparatus can be moved through an opening approximately 12 inches by 22inches; and when arranged as a tool chest, Fig 4 it is no longer than anordinary carpenters tool chest.

What I claim is: r

1. A combination tool chest. and, [work bench, comprising two boxeshinged together so that they can be swung side by side, or end to end;one box having a proj ecting drawer and the other a recess so that whentheboxes are side by side the projecting drawer will engage the recess.2. A combination tool chest and work bench, comprising two boxeshingedtogether at their adjacent corners, so that. they can be swungside by side, or end to end; said boxes having drawers, those in one/boxbeing inset and those in the other boxprojecting. so that when the boxesare side by side the projecting drawers will engage the recess formed bythe inset drawers, substantially as described. i

3. A combination tool chest and work bench, comprising two boxes hinged'together so that they canbe swung side by side, or end to end; each boxhaving. a top, and a hmged supplemental cover overlying the top; saidcovers having edges adapted to form a tight joint when the boxes arearranged side by side as a chest.

4;. A combination tool chest and work bench, comprising two boxes hingedtogether at their adjacent corners, so that theycan be swung side byside, or end to end; each box having a hinged top, and a hingedsupplemental cover overlying the top and means for fastening the topsand covers, said covers having edges adapted to form a tight joint whenthe boxes are folded side by side as a chest.

5. In a combination tool chest and work bench, a box having drawers, anddrawer slides, said slides being constructed for engagement with theangle of a square, whereby the drawers can be locked when closed,substantially as described.

6. A combination tool chest and work bench, comprising two boxes hingedtogether at their adjacent corners, so that they can be swung side byside, or end to end; said boxes having drawers, and drawer slides andguides, said slides and guides being constructed for engagement with theangle of a square, whereby the drawers can be locked when closed,substantially as described.

7 In combination with a box, a foldable leg attached to each endthereof, and comprising a member hinged to the bottom of the box andadapted to be folded thereunder, an extension hinged to said member, anda brace hinged to said member, said extension and brace being foldableagainst the member and therewith under the box,

substantially as described.

8. In combination work bench and tool chest, a box having a hingedcover, and a notch in one side with a bar hinged to the cover andadapted to be turned so as to project out'of the box through said notch,and support a clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signatureANDREW ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 01' Patents, Washington, D. 0.

